SAS soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice remembered

Among them are members of the SAS, whose often-secret missions have taken them from the deserts of North Africa during the Second World War to more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Here are some of the soldiers, and stories of sacrifice, associated with the regiment.

Trooper Sarah Jones

Location: Afghanistan

Trooper Sarah Jones was a communications specialist attached to the regiment. She was killed in Afghanistan in 2013 while supporting a mission against insurgent forces.

Jones was one of the few female soldiers to die while working alongside UK Special Forces. She was remembered for her professionalism and courage in extremely dangerous conditions.

Sergeant Steve Roberts

Location: Iraq

Sergeant Steve Roberts of the SAS was killed in Iraq in 2003 during the early stages of the conflict.

He died after his patrol came under attack near Basra. His death highlighted the risks faced by Special Forces personnel operating behind the headlines in some of the most hostile environments in the world.

Colleagues described Roberts as a highly respected operator with years of frontline experience.

Trooper Matty Hull

Location: Iraq

Trooper Matty Hull was killed in Iraq in 2003 in a friendly-fire incident involving a US A-10 aircraft.

His death later became the subject of investigations and public scrutiny after cockpit footage emerged. Despite the circumstances of his death, Hull is remembered as a dedicated soldier who served with distinction in one of the British Army’s most elite units.

Staff Sergeant Olly Blackburn

Location: Afghanistan

Staff Sergeant Olly Blackburn died following injuries sustained while serving in Afghanistan.

A veteran of numerous Special Forces operations, Blackburn was highly regarded within the regiment. His death served as a reminder that SAS personnel often undertake some of the most dangerous missions carried out by British forces, frequently far from public attention.

Lieutenant Colonel ‘Paddy’ Mayne’s fallen comrades

Location: North Africa, Sicily, Italy and occupied Europe

Lieutenant Colonel Paddy Mayne, one of the SAS’s founding figures, survived the Second World War, but many soldiers who served alongside him did not.

During daring raids across North Africa, Sicily, Italy and occupied Europe, dozens of SAS troopers were killed in action or executed after capture by German forces.

Their sacrifices helped establish the regiment’s reputation for courage, resilience and innovation, and their stories remain central to Remembrance Sunday commemorations.